Plant (Tampa),
Jefferson (Tampa) and
Armwood (Seffner) are all still competing for state championships.
It wasn't that long ago (2006-2008) when the three teams were all beating up on each other in Class 4A.
Now spread out in classes 5A, 4A and 3A, each is making another title run.
MaxPreps' Florida football playoff bracketsPlant got two second-half touchdown runs from
James Wilder and 163 yards in a comeback 21-13 win against Countryside (Clearwater) in the Class 5A region finals. Do-it-all Wilder even blocked an extra point attempt after a Countryside touchdown.
Video of James WilderPlant (11-2) played most of the game without quarterback (and Alabama commit)
Phillip Ely, who was out with back spasms. Ely is expected to be a game-time decision this week for the state semifinal contest against
Lakeland (13-0). If Ely can't go,
Nick Sanders would fill in again.
Plant is making a run for a third straight state championship and fourth in five years. Along the way last season, Plant went to Lakeland and handed the Dreadnaughts a 20-0 drubbing. It marked the first time in program history Lakeland had ever been shut out at home in a playoff game.
Jefferson, meanwhile, is a win away from playing for its first state title in six years. The Dragons were state runners up in 2002 and 2004.
The Dragons actually trailed (21-20) at the half of their Class 3A region final game against Vanguard (Ocala). But quarterback
Quentin Williams led a run of 29 unanswered second-half points as Jefferson rallied for a 49-27 win.
Jefferson (13-0) hosts
St. Augustine (13-0) to advance to the state championship game.
During his 327 yards passing in the win against Vanguard, Williams broke ex-Florida Gator Tim Tebow's high school career mark for passing yards. Williams also owns Bay area career passing yards and touchdowns marks. He also owns the state career touchdown record (currently 104) and tied the county season touchdown pass record last week with his 51st of the season.
Video of Quentin WilliamsArmwood (13-0) finds itself in a much-anticipated rematch from last year's playoffs. The Hawks topped Charlotte (Punta Gorda) 28-12 in last week's Class 4A region final.
The win sends Armwood to the state semis against
Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) (12-1), the squad that booted Armwood from the postseason last year. And in spectacular fashion, Dwyer drubbed Armwood 41-15 in that game last season.
Armwood's two losses last season were to Plant and to Dwyer. Both Plant and Dwyer went on to win state crowns in 2009.
This season, in its first rematch game, Armwood topped Plant 17-0.
Stay tuned for Friday.